Mira's '93 XJ 2-dr. build (11-year-old's first Jeep)

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Subscribed!

this is an awesome build. can't wait to do something like this with my kids

Thanks guys.

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

"Dumb Dad" went fishing this afternoon, and finally got the missing 15mm socket out of Mira's Jeep XJ frame rail. It probably would have been a good job for Mira (think "lesson in patience/problem solving"), but I took one for the team.

Mira's old front upper control arm bushings have seen better days. I used the tool check-out program (free rental) at Autozone, and used a ball joint press to remove/install front upper control arm bushings on Mira's Jeep today. I made some additional spacers for the press out of some old CJ rollbar tubing I had laying around. All in all, it went very smoothly (first time doing these).

New bushings installed. Front axle is now ready to be cleaned up & painted before reinstalling.

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Since I won't have my girls over Easter, they got their Easter gifts early (along with a chocolate bunny)...their own tool kits (which they can keep in their respective XJs), and "designer" duct tape.

With the cold temps, it was a relatively lazy Jeep work day. We did, however, get Mira's Rokmen bump stop extensions installed...drill, tap, cut down bolts, chase threads, and bolt on. It's too cold to paint the axle today, though. I swear by the Blair Tools Rotabroach bits, FWIW; they cut like butter.

I had these adjustable bump stop extensions left over from my 1-ton LJ project. They'll work perfectly!

 

[jbsjunk]

Nicer than using body lift pucks which I normally use.

 

[whitexj98]

Dropped my 15mm socket down the rail 3 years ago... its part of the jeep now.

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Nicer than using body lift pucks which I normally use.

It's nice that I had them laying around, and they're nice pieces.

Dropped my 15mm socket down the rail 3 years ago... its part of the jeep now.

LOL! Yeah, I knew I had to get it out of there, as it would rattle like heck.



We prepped and primed (first coat) Mira's front axle today. It's SO nice to have it warm enough to paint! We're hoping to reinstall the axle, along with the "new" control arms, steering components & track bar, in a couple weeks.

 

[iluv83vettes]

LOL! Yeah, I knew I had to get it out of there, as it would rattle like heck.

I dropped mine in there the day after I read your post. Tried for an hour to get it out. Waste of time. I haven't noticed any rattle.

 

[jbsjunk]

It's the little things that urk you.

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

I dropped mine in there the day after I read your post. Tried for an hour to get it out. Waste of time. I haven't noticed any rattle.

It's the little things that urk you.

Indeed.

 

[jbsjunk]

That's why I tape sockets to the extensions in cases like this.

 

[Kittrell]

Turned out well, what did you use for paint?

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Turned out well, what did you use for paint?

This is just the base coat. It's Eastwood Rust Encapsulator, and it'll be top-coated with Eastwood Extreme Chassis Black (Satin). I have been very pleased with Eastwood products, FWIW.

Here's Mira's rear axle before we installed it (same paint):

And here's the Dana 60 that's going in the front of my '58 Jeep FC170 project (again, same paint).

 

[Tony_SS]

Love this build.. Sub'd

 

[Kittrell]

This is just the base coat. It's Eastwood Rust Encapsulator, and it'll be top-coated with Eastwood Extreme Chassis Black (Satin). I have been very pleased with Eastwood products, FWIW.

Eastwood is new to me, I have seen their stuff and a good many references to it. Never used it myself though, I have not painted anything since POR-15 was the product to use. Definitely liking what I see though, thanks for the information.

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Love this build.. Sub'd

Thanks, Tony_SS.

Eastwood is new to me, I have seen their stuff and a good many references to it. Never used it myself though, I have not painted anything since POR-15 was the product to use. Definitely liking what I see though, thanks for the information.

Here's the 60-second comparison/recap, in my humble opinion (I used POR-15 on my first Jeep Scrambler build). POR-15 is durable, but finicky (we did use a bit of it on Mira's floorpan, under the passenger carpet, too). It's finicky even if you are anal-retentive about good prep-work, which I am. Eastwood paint doesn't have as hard of a surface as POR-15, but it goes on evenly, has a great end finish, and is available in a rattle can for those of us who don't have a compressor/spray gun. I keep a small can of POR on-hand for small little stuff I don't want to spray, but in general, I haven't looked back since switching to Eastwood paints.

Now you know...the rest...of the story.

 

[DeftwillP]

I just read your closer in Paul Harvey's voice...and even signed off with a "Good day!?"

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

I just read your closer in Paul Harvey's voice...and even signed off with a "Good day!?"

Exactly the reaction I was looking for. :rof:


Mira & I got her new suspension bits, including a set of complimentary TeraFlex adjustable LCAs thanks to Porscheguy (GreatLakes4x4.com) & TeraFlex. We still need to get her new steering parts bolted in, and torque everything down yet...another day. All in all, it was a good/productive day for Mira's XJ.

 

[Fore Wheeler]

Time to look for some painted fender flares to match the rest of that pretty jeep.

Looking great guys!

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Time to look for some painted fender flares to match the rest of that pretty jeep.

Looking great guys!

Perhaps. Only if I knew where to find a set... :laugh2: (it's on the agenda to address the flares at some point after the more important stuff)

Thanks for the kind words, Dan.

 

[Kittrell]

Looking good, need to find some red flares for that thing.

These still have not sold, nearly 7 months. I bet you could talk him down.